American International School in Egypt

The American International School is a private, co-educational, college preparatory day school serving an international student body from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. Established in 1990, AIS provides an American curriculum taught by a highly qualified faculty. AIS offers a full American program with either Arabic or Arabic-as-a-Foreign Language. The French language is offered, beginning in grade six. The kindergarten is full day and the small elementary classes are self-contained with computers, library, art, music, PE and Arabic taught by specialists.

The Middle School (7th and 8th grades) include the basic subjects as well computer, art, music, French and physical education. The High School (9th to 12th grade) program at AIS is college preparatory with the French and Arabic languages. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Diploma program courses are offered. Support ESL classes are available at grades K-9. The professional staff (except for teachers of foreign languages) are experienced North American teachers, fully qualified and certified, and 50% have advanced degrees (MA or PhD).

AIS students come from 49 different nationalities, 9% American, 71% Egyptian and 20% from 47 other countries. All students are college bound: American colleges (90%) and other colleges (10%).

The school year is divided into two semesters from beginning of September until mid June. The school day extends from 08:20 to 14:50, Sunday to Thursday and the school calendar honors Egyptian and religious holidays. After-school sports include basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, track and field. New purpose-built facilities include 110 large, centrally air-conditioned classrooms, eight science laboratories, five computer centers, three art studios, photography lab, two-storey library, canteen, a modern office building, an indoor gymnasium and a 600-seat auditorium. The buildings are barrier-free for the convenience of handicapped students and personnel. A purpose-built facility in Heliopolis-Cairo has been added to accommodate some kindergarten and primary classes as of September 2001.

Admissions are based on school records, entrance exams and age. Students are grade-placed according to the American system.